Kukla's Korner Hockey

And his (Ryan Kesler) quiet series against the Kings did little to spruce up a playoff resume that shows just 10 goals in 53 games. Half of those came in a five-day span during Kesler’s spectacular second-round playoff series last year against the Nashville Predators.

General manager Mike Gillis, exasperated by the Canucks’ reputation for diving and whining, may well consider Kesler’s playoff returns when he decides how best to change his team.

Luongo and Kesler have been cornerstones so long, trading those two alone would transform the Canucks.

“It’s really not my job to worry about stuff like that,” Kesler said of the possibility of change. “We have a good team; we finished on top of the league this year. Saying that, two weeks of bad hockey kills you. Everybody knows this group can win.

“We were one win away [10 months ago] and we didn’t even get our foot in the door this year.”

Comments

From Wiki: “Despite growing up in Michigan, he was a Minnesota North Stars fan. As a young hockey player, Kesler looked up to North Stars center and fellow Livonia native Mike Modano as a role model. He has also listed Joe Sakic of the Quebec Nordiques and Colorado Avalanche as a favorite player during his childhood.”
If that isn’t enough for a Wings fan to hate the guy you can add overated, a diver and a whiner to his resume. I can’t stands me some Ryan Kesler.

Posted by
Vladimir16
from Grand River Valley on 04/25/12 at 12:13 PM ET

I have to think that if he was made available, there’d be a line-up of teams interested. As much as I loathe the way he often plays in terms of diving and such, he’s a gamer and I’d take him on my squad in a heartbeat.

Posted by
Chris M
from Ottawa on 04/25/12 at 12:22 PM ET

Kesler might do better on a different squad. No doubt that the Canucks would get a ton of value from him. I don’t know what he needs to be successful, but he certainly has the tools necessary. The thing is that Kesler is just kind of… weird. It seems like he enjoys being different just for the sake of being different. This can often lead to a bunch of funny things out of a guy like we’ve seen in the past, but it doesn’t always transfer well onto the hockey rink where he’s actually doing his job. Kesler seems too easily distracted by bullshit and very easily shaken. Adding to this season, it seems the more he’s in the spotlight, the less comfortable he is just playing the game.

It’s not exactly the same thing as Johan Franzen, but it seems that Kesler needs to either get his head on straight, or needs to find the perfect atmosphere for him where there’s not as much pressure to put up 40 goals.

I don’t know, maybe if all the rumors are true, I could see a bit of a blockbuster Kesler-for-Staal move with the Penguins. I don’t know how much it makes sense or what kind of additional value either team might have to add (if any). Staal certainly wouldn’t be the first line center like the rumors say he wants, but it’s a fair assumption that he’d grab the 2nd line center role exceptionally well. Kesler could either center the Penguins’ third line or he could transition to defensive winger one one of the top two.

Plus, it would solve the “Do we need a big move to shake up the roster?” Questions for two teams with disappointing results this year. I also think that, for how much I hate how little control Dan Bylsma seems to exert over his team’s emotion, Bylsma would be a good coaching fit for Kesler and Vigneault good for Staal.